This message was shared with the faculty and staff the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi system on August 25, 2025.
Aloha colleagues,
The start of a new academic year always brings a special energy to our campuses. Like many of you, I still remember the excitement, and yes, a little bit of nervousness, of walking into the classroom on the first day as a faculty member. That sense of possibility never leaves me, and it is renewed each fall when our campuses come alive with students eager to learn, connect, and begin the next stage of their journey.
We enter this year of uncertainty from a position of optimism. At a time when many institutions are facing structural deficits, the University of Hawaiʻi is financially stable thanks to our legislative partners and the hard work and dedication of our administrators, faculty and staff. Whatever external forces may swirl around us, we will continue to move forward together to advance the excellence of this institution and maintain our unwavering commitment to our students and to Hawaiʻi.
I truly believe there are transformative opportunities ahead for UH to reach the next level of excellence. We will be launching a systemwide approach to artificial intelligence, exploring how it can strengthen teaching, research and operations while preparing our students for the world they are entering. We will also expand our efforts to improve student success through new tools, training and support, ensuring that every learner on every campus has access to the resources they need to thrive. We will continue to leverage the strength of our ten campus system to achieve outcomes at scale for our community that are not attainable by a single campus.
Faculty, you are at the heart of our mission. You inspire curiosity, push boundaries and open doors of opportunity for thousands of students each year. The impact of your teaching, research and mentorship extends far beyond our classrooms—it strengthens our communities and shapes the future of our state. Staff, your tireless work makes it all possible, providing the essential behind-the-scenes support that makes this university truly excellent. Know that across the ten campuses and five education centers, we see you—our faculty and staff—and thank you for the many contributions to this university you have already made, as well as those to come.
I look forward to engaging with you throughout the year as we explore new ways to build excellence across the system, advance innovation and serve Hawaiʻi together. I’d love to stay connected with you and encourage you to follow me @UHPresident on Instagram and X, or at Wendy Hensel on Linkedin.
Thank you for your passion, your expertise and your dedication to our students. I hope you are as excited as I am to get started once again.
With gratitude and aloha,
Wendy Hensel
President, University of Hawaiʻi
